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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12.13.2023 Museum Arts & Culture Board Minutes Minutes of the December 13, 2023 Museum Board Meeting Oshkosh Public Museum ■ 1331 Algoma Boulevard ■ Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54901 Page 1 of 4 Minutes of the December 13, 2023 Board Meeting (Approved at the January 10, 2024 Board Meeting.) The December meeting of the Oshkosh Public Museum (OPM) Museum Arts and Culture (MAC) Board was held Wednesday, December 13, 2023, in the Galena Room of the Museum. Director Sarah Phillips called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. The roll was taken by Administrative Assistant Theresa Books. Present at Roll: Board Members Becky Matzke, Drew Mueske, Vicky Redlin, Alternates Erron Hundt, Carrie Olson. Board Member /Council Member Joseph Stephenson arrived at 4:35 Excused: Board Member Becky Doe Brown Also Present: Director Sarah Phillips, Assistant Director/Chief Curator Anna Cannizzo, Marketing Coordinator Kate Stel, Curator of Education Neal Matherne, and Administrative Assistant Theresa Books recording the Minutes With Board Member Brown excused and Mr. Stevenson not present at Roll, Director Phillips asked for motions to appoint Alternates Erron Hundt and Carrie Olson. MOTION: Appoint Erin Hundt to serve in Ms. Brown’s place. (Redlin; second Matzke) CARRIED: Yes (3) Matzke, Mueske, Redlin MOTION: Appoint Carrie Olson to serve in Mr. Stevenson’s place. (Redlin; second Mueske) CARRIED: Yes (4) Hundt, Matzke, Mueske, Redlin There were no citizen statements to the Board and none were received. Consent Agenda items included: A. Minutes of November 8, 2023, MAC Board Meeting B. Receipt of Unrestricted Gifts from M. Thompson ($1,000) and R. Osborn ($2,407.76) MOTION: Approve Consent Agenda (Matzke; second Redlin) CARRIED: Yes (5) Hundt, Matzke, Mueske, Olson, Redlin Director Phillips then recommended a use of the above voted gifts. She asked the Board to consider and approve a 2024 Budget Amendment to add this money to the Limited Term Employee (LTE) line item; for both Visitor Services and the Education Assistant. She noted that there is money in the 2024 budget for these positions, however, this would help enhance that budget line. Minutes of the December 13, 2023 Museum Board Meeting Oshkosh Public Museum ■ 1331 Algoma Boulevard ■ Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54901 Page 2 of 4 MOTION: Approve the amount of the gifts ($3,407.76) be added to the 2024 budget for Limited Term Employees. (Redlin; second Olson) CARRIED: Yes (5) Hundt, Matzke, Mueske, Olson, Redlin Director Phillips then presented to the Board a Tiffany exhibit opportunity for 2025. The Neustadt Collection of Tiffany Glass (The Neustadt) in New York has an extensive Tiffany Studios Collection. Their staff are extremely well-researched in all things Tiffany. Ms. Cannizzo noted they have a relatively new traveling exhibit called Tiffany’s Gardens in Glass that includes lamps and a few windows. All of these have elements of nature and landscapes. The exhibit would fit beautifully in the currently being renovated Waldwic Gallery. Ms. Stel mentioned that this would be a Midwest debut for the exhibit as it has mainly been on the east coast and no further west than Pennsylvania. Ms. Cannizzo noted OPM would rent it for the time period of July 19, 2025 through January 3, 2026. The cost of exhibit rental is $50,000 with the requirement of a down payment of $20,000 when the contract is signed and then $15,000 one month prior to the exhibit opening and $15,000 one month after the exhibit opening. The exhibit includes all frames, display furniture, and replacement light bulbs. Additional costs separate from the rental fee will be shipping to and from OPM which may cost about $10,000. Also, the cost of travel for two Neustadt staff to travel to Oshkosh to help set up the exhibit. Ms. Stel stated this will be an attractive exhibit for sponsors. However, for OPM staff to proceed with a contract, the Board would need to approve money to cover all costs of the exhibit. The Board discussed various details, including budget considerations, then a motion was made: MOTION: Approve a 2024 Budget Amendment for the use of Membership Funds for the $20,000 Down Payment of The Neustadt exhibit Tiffany’s Gardens In Glass; and approve the full amount needed for the exhibit. With the understanding that $30,000 plus will be budgeted in the 2025 budget. (Matzke; second Mueske) CARRIED: Yes (5) Hundt, Matzke, Mueske, Olson, Redlin Next, Director Phillips reported that the Executive Director of The Neustadt, Lindsy Parrott, would be pleased to travel to Oshkosh in January 2024 to see the Tiffany-designed Sawyer Home interiors. While she is here Director Phillips and staff can glean knowledge about OPMs Tiffany collection. Ms. Parrott is knowledgeable about Agnes Northrop, the Tiffany artist who is attributed as the designer of the arched Wisteria window in the Sawyer Home. When talking with staff, Ms. Parrott underscored the uniqueness of the Sawyer Home in its entire interior being designed by Tiffany. After Board discussion and questions Director Phillips requested that the Board approve reasonable travel and honorarium expenses from the Collections Fund for Ms. Parrott to travel to Oshkosh. MOTION: Approve use of the Collections Fund for reasonable travel expenses and honorarium for Ms. Parrott to travel to Oshkosh in January 2024. (Redlin; second Hundt) CARRIED: Yes (5) Hundt, Matzke, Mueske, Olson, Redlin Minutes of the December 13, 2023 Museum Board Meeting Oshkosh Public Museum ■ 1331 Algoma Boulevard ■ Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54901 Page 3 of 4 Nomination and vote for MAC Board Chair and Vice Chair was next on the agenda. Director Phillips explained that while Attorney Lorenson is doing the final review of the MAC Board Bylaws, she recommended to go ahead and vote for the Chair and Vice Chair because the Bylaws will not change radically. The Board had thoroughly talked through the requirements of the two positions at the last Board meeting and members had expressed interest in the positions. Ms Hundt nominated Vicky Redlin to serve as Chair. (second Olson) Ms. Olson nominated Rebecca Doe Brown to serve as Vice Chair. (second Mueske) MOTION: Appoint Ms. Redlin to serve as Chair of the MAC Board and Ms. Brown to serve as Vice Chair. (Olson; second Mueske) CARRIED: Yes (5) Hundt, Matzke, Mueske, Olson, Redlin Chair Redlin then requested the Director’s Report. Director Phillips began with an update of the second-floor transformation. She noted that work has begun again with crews from Berglund Construction being on-site constructing scaffolding and shoring on the exterior of the building. Over the next two weeks, crews will demo the masonry and install a new steel door and frame, allowing crate access directly to the second floor of the Museum. Work on this phase of building improvements is scheduled to be completed in early January 2024. The second floor of the Museum will be closed to the public for the duration of this project to ensure the safety and security of visitors. Messaging and updates about the reopening of the second-floor galleries will be communicated through the website and social media. Director Phillips then noted that the Visitor Services staff has done an excellent job of communicating this closure to visitors and will continue to share information that may be relevant to the visitor experience as guests arrive at the museum. For the education update Director Phillips turned it over to Curator of Education Neal Matherne. Dr. Matherne began by handing out surveys that the children had filled out. The surveys were delightful to see, with pictures drawn of the things that they enjoyed most at the Museum. It was noted that in 2022 the Oshkosh Area School District (OASD) made it mandatory for all 3rd graders to visit the Museum as part of their history curriculum. Thanks to OASD Superintendent Bryan Davis and Social Studies Curriculum Coordinator Tanya Schmidt who made that happen. He then reported that by the end of January of 2024, for the 2023-24 academic year, the OPM education department will have hosted 47 field trip groups with a total of 951 participants. This includes 36 local and regional elementary school visits (753 participants). Dr. Matherne pointed out that for many of the visitors, their fieldtrip to OPM could be the only opportunity to be at this Museum, or any museum. He noted that children remember their fieldtrips, for good or bad. Therefore, OPM staff want to make these visits fun, interesting, and enjoyable for the children as they learn curriculum related information. Dr. Matherne noted that from a raise of hands at the beginning of the trip on average 86% have never been to a museum. A raise of hands at the end of the visit, 100% say they want to come back. Minutes of the December 13, 2023 Museum Board Meeting Oshkosh Public Museum ■ 1331 Algoma Boulevard ■ Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54901 Page 4 of 4 Ms. Hundt asked if the lessons are intentional for the fieldtrip groups. Dr. Matherne explained that, they are intentional. The OASC Social Studies Curriculum Coordinator works with staff to adjust the teaching points to align with current curriculum. This includes for exhibits such as People of the Waters and The (Menominee) Clans Figures. Dr. Matherne then reported the OPM staff facilitated and hosted nine Family Discovery Days (FDD) for approximately 180 participants. The Fox Valley Technical College Interior Design group came and were amazed by the interior of the Sawyer Home. A few other groups that have visited include 4H groups, Davis Childcare, Lakeside Packaging Plus vocational group, Arc of Fond du Lac, and the AUSA of Madison—a group of high school foreign exchange students. Additionally, in partnership with City of Oshkosh Parks Department, OPM staff have co-facilitated six Cemetery Tours for 120 participants. Dr. Matherne expressed that Education Assistant Kim Straus is very clever in figuring out programs, lessons and make-n-takes to go with themes for each month. She figures out multiple activities for each Family Discover Day so that the various age groups attending have something interesting to do. Chair Redlin mentioned the Oshkosh Fine Arts group has a Plein Air event happening on June 20, 2024. Artists will start the day at the Paine Art Center and Gardens. She asked if it would be ok for the artists to have the option to come to the grounds of the OPM to paint that day. Dr. Matherne said that’d be fine. Director Phillips reported that the 2023 education program has had a significant impact for the Museum. She noted that Dr. Matherne has been with OPM less than a year, yet he has done a great job reaching out to and having these various types of groups visit the Museum. He customizes tours for each of the groups. Council Member Stephenson agreed with Director Phillips that Dr. Matherne is doing a great job of working with groups and building the programs. In closing Dr. Matherne noted that his goal is to make intangible concepts become real to visitors. And he wants to expand the program reach to groups beyond Oshkosh, to have a regional impact. That concluded the Director’s Report. With no other agenda items, Chair Redlin asked for a motion to adjourn. MOTION: Adjourn (Matzke; second Mueske) CARRIED: Voice Vote The meeting adjourned at 5:35 p.m.